Russian Military in Syria

Russian Military in Syria

A Russian combat aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria being prepared for action. (Russian Ministry of Defence)

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Incident Code

RS4528

Incident date

October 31, 2020

Location

نحلية, Nahliya, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.847491, 36.600351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed, and three others, including one elderly woman, were injured as a result of alleged Russian or Iranian airstrikes or explosion of a suicide drone in the village of Nahlia, in the vicinity of the town of Ariha, south of Idlib on the afternoon of October 31st, 2020 according to Local sources.

One source only (@atif781Osman) mentioned the killing of “at least one civilian” due to airstrikes by a drone on a workshop while workers “were picking olives in the agricultural lands of the village of Nahlia”. No other source mentioned any detail on the number of civilians that were reported killed. However, all of the sources claimed that civilians were injured in this incident. The majority of the sources including Syrian Civil defense reported that three civilians, including an elderly woman, were wounded and added that “the civil defense teams responded to the incident and worked to aid the wounded and secure the place”. Step News agency claimed that the three civilians were “seriously injured”. On the other hand, some other sources such as Syrian journalists Mohamed Al-Daher (@Mohamed2Aldaher) and Ibrahim Yasouf (@ibraheem890) claimed that one woman and one man were injured.

Some sources including Syrian civil defense and Syrian Observatory of Human Rights mentioned that the attack was on people harvesting olives in the village of Nahlia. Other local sources (@SRoudinah2, @muhammadamory1) reported that a car in the village of Nahlia was attacked. Nevertheless, according to Enab Baladi News the commander of the Ariha sector in the Civil Defense, Walid Aslan, said that “civilians working in the olive fields in the vicinity of the village of Nahlia, were targeted by suicide drones. One of them exploded near a car belonging to civilians, injuring three people, including an elderly woman who sustained a head injury”.

Sham News and a tweet by (@SRoudinah2) pointed out the use of new weapons in the attack. Some of the sources including Step News Agency and Halab Today TV mentioned that there were airstrikes specifically from a drone, while others including Al-Jisr News agency and Idlib TV reported that there was an explosion of the suicide drone. However, One source on twitter called Resala post (@resalapost) claimed that the drone actually crashed to the ground.

The majority of the sources who named the belligerent in their reporting on the incident blamed Russian forces for the attack. However, few local sources including the journalist Mohamed Al-Daher (@Mohamed2Aldaher) and the activist Hafez Taraman (@hafeztaraman) claimed that the suicide drone that attacked the civilians was Iranian.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Three civilians, including a woman, were injured after being targeted by a drone while they were working in the olive fields in the village of Nahle, south of the city of Ariha in the southern countryside of Idlib.
  • A woman was injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via SCD).
  • A woman injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020 is assisted by SCD members. (via SCD).
  • SCD volunteers seen next to a car after it was struck by a Russian suicide drone in Nahla, Idlib on October 31st, 2020. (via SCD).
  • The woman who was injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via @IdlibPlus)
  • The woman who was injured in an alleged Russian suicide drone on Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via MMC)
  • The car that was struck by a Russian suicide drone in Nahla village on October 31st, 2020. (via MMC)
  • An image shared by MMC Facebook page of the suicide drone allegedly used by Russia on October 31st, 2020 on a car in Nahla village.
  • An image from the hospital after an alleged Russian attack with a suicide drone on Nahla village. (via MMC)
  • An image from the hospital after three civilians were injured in alleged Russian suicide drone attack on Nahla village in Idlib. (via SY24)
  • Three civilians were injured in alleged Russian suicide drone attack on Nahla village in Idlib. (via SY24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the village of Nahliya (نحلية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.847491, 36.600351. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (36) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4529

Incident date

October 31, 2020

Location

تلتونه, Taltuna, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.016907, 36.587482 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reportedly killed and five others were injured after an alleged airstrike by a Russian or Syrian or Iranian drone on agricultural lands in the village of Taltuna, west of  Ma’arat Misrin north of Idlib on the morning of October 31st, 2020 according to local sources.

According to sources including Orient news and Halab Today TV, one civilian was killed and five others were injured and transferred to medical points for treatment after a drone bombed an agricultual area in the vicinity of the city of Ma’arat Misrin. Specifically, the Democratic Union mentioned on Facebook that activists said that a “suicide drone” bombed an “effective olive-picking workshop” in the village of Taltuna, near Ma’arat Maisrin and an activist called Wedad Hamad (@Gurbtwatan) reported that the victims were agricultural workers harvesting olives.

Most of the sources that reported on the incident either did not mention the belligerent behind the attack or stated that the airstrike was by an “unidentified drone”. Few others including the Democratic Union and Masar Press network claimed that the drone was Russian. Sham News as well reported that the Syrian Civil Defence “revealed the nature of the recent strikes in Idlib countryside from a reconnaissance plane believed to be Russian, which targeted an area west of the city of Ma’arat Misrin, pointing out that its bombs are equipped with mines intended for detonation with wires”. On the other hand, a tweet by (@Gurbtwatan) mentioned that the drone likely belongs to the Syrian regime, and another tweet by (@NagiNajjar) claimed that the drone involved in the attack was Iranian.

Note that according to a post by Radio Al-Kul the attack happened while “the entire liberated areas in Idlib governorate were subject to a Turkish-Russian ceasefire agreement after March 5, 2020”, and Masar News network reported that alleged Russian drones “intensified their overflights over the city of Idlib and Jabal al-Zawiya, where they monitor and target any movements of civilians in the area” and added that thousands of civilians in the areas of northwest Syria “go to agricultural lands to pick their crops, in light of the artillery and air bombardment chasing them.”

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: "Southern Idlib, Maarat Misrin - a martyr and 5 wounded due to an Iranian drone targeting a civilian area in the vicinity of Maarat Misrin" (via @NagiNajjar).
  • Suicide drone. Unclear if this photo is of the alleged Russian, Syrian regime or Iranian drone strikes on the town of Taluna on October 31st, 2020 (via @NagiNajjar).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Taltuna (تلتونه), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.016907, 36.587482. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime, Iranian Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4530

Incident date

November 4, 2020

Location

أريحا, Ariha, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Up to four civilians, including one child, and up toaround 12 others, including one child and four women were injured as a result of alleged artillery shelling by Syrian Regime and/or Russian forces on the city of Ariha, south of Idlib on the morning of November 4th 2020 according to local sources and news agencies.

Step news agency, Edlib media center and other few sources mentioned that three civilians were killed by the artillery shelling on Ariha that morning. The Director of the Media Office in the Southern Directorate of Civil Defense, Muhammad Hammadi, told Enab Baladi, that “three civilians were killed, including a girl, as a result of targeting civilian homes and main roads in the city of Ariha with 35 heavy artillery shells in the morning.” However the majority of the sources including Syrian Civil Defense, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Syrian Network for Human rights documented the death of four civilians including one child in the attack.

Local sources mentioned the names of four civilians who were killed: the child Rimas Hindawi from the city of Ariha who was going to her school when the attack happened, Samer Madi from the city of Ariha, young Ibrahim Al-Younes born in 1990 in Urum Al Joz who is is a psychological support worker at Ihsan Relief and Development Organization, and young Ragheed Zakariya Al-Jesri from Ariha who worked as a driver in the same organization. Al Souria platform reported that Ibrahim used to drive a motorcycle from his village of Urum Al Joz to the city of Ariha, where he would meet his colleague Ragheed and drive together with a car to their office in the center of Idlib; and according to Syrian Network for Human rights, one of the shells fired that morning fell on a car carrying the two employees in the city’s Al-Midan neighborhood and led to their death. The same source claimed also that one of the shells fell on “the schoolyard of the city’s Martyr Zakariya Saedou school, partially destroying the yard and damaging furniture in the school”, and a number of the shells fell as well on the “city’s industrial zone, partially destroying several shops” and confirmed that the “industrial zone and the school which is located within a residential area are free of any military presence or equipment.”

As for the injured, a post by “Nors For Studies” claimed that five people were injured by the attack, however Syrian civil defense reported that eight people including one child and four women were wounded. Two other sources (the journalist Hadi Alabdallah and the activist Suheil Hammoud claimed that “dozens “ were injured in this attack, and a post by AlSouria News platform mentioned that more than 10 were injured that morning. The city of Ariha that was attacked is one of the most overcrowded areas inhabited by indigenous and displaced people according to Thiqa News agency.

The majority of the sources reporting on the incident blamed the Syrian Regime for the attack including the Syrian civil Defense that claimed that the regime forces bombed the city of Ariha with “more than 35 artillery shells” that morning and the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights that mentioned that there was “an intensive rocket attack” and “the regime forces fired over 45 rockets” on the city of Ariha claiming that the attack happened while a “Turkish military column was passing by.” On the other hand, only one post by (Eye on Al-Hasakah) ( post) mentioned that the bombing was by Assad forces and Russia, and another tweet by the researcher Qusaai Jukhadar (@Qussai_jukhadar) blamed Russia for the attack. Worth noting that the Syrian Network for Human Rights mentioned as well that this bombardment was a “breach of the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Raghid Zakariya Al Jasri رغيد زكريا جسري
Adult male driver at Ihsan Relief and Development Organization killed
Samer Madi سامر ماضي
Adult male killed
Rimas Hindawi ريماس هنداوي
Child female killed
Ibrahim Al Younis ابراهيم اليونس
Adult male psychological support worker at Ihsan Relief and Development Organization killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The child Rimas Hindawi was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the city of Ariha, November 4th, 2020 (via Eye On Al Hassakah).
  • Injured civilians being brought to an ambulance after alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha on November 4th, 2020 (via SNHR).
  • Two employees of Ihsan Relief and Development Organization, named as Ibrahim al Younes (pictured right) and Raghid Zakariya al Jesri (left) were killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on Ariha on November 4th, 2020 (via SNHR).
  • Aftermath of alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on Ariha on November 4th, 2020 (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • The child Rimas Hindawi was killed in alleged Russian or Syrian regime artillery strikes on the city of Ariha, November 4th, 2020 (via Eye On Al Hassakah).
  • Rimas Hindawi was reportedly killed on her way to school on November 4th 2022 by a Russian or Syrian regime artillery shelling on November 4th 2020 (Image via Al Souria)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four people were allegedly killed when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit south of Idlib on November 4th 2020, including one young girl (Image via @Sharif199629 /Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four people were allegedly killed when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit south of Idlib on November 4th 2020, including one young girl (Image via @Sharif199629 /Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Four people were allegedly killed when a Russian or Syrian regime artillery hit south of Idlib on November 4th 2020, including one young girl (Image via @Sharif199629 /Twitter)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1 child1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (30) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4531

Incident date

November 17, 2020

Location

قسطون, Qastoun, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian died when his house in Qastoun village, Hama governorate, collapsed on November 17th, 2020. According to local sources, the man’s home had been previously severely damaged by alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes.

The Syrian Civil Defence reported: “A civilian died, today, Tuesday, November 17, in the town of Qastoun in the western countryside of Hama, after the roof of his house, which was previously bombed by the regime, fell. To avoid a similar incident, our teams removed a collapsing roof in the town of Badama in the western countryside of Idlib as a result of previous bombing.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights identified the victim as Nassar Ahmad Nassar, also blaming previous Syrian or Russian shelling for the incident: “Local activists explained to SNHR that the roof had been severely damaged by intensive bombardment of the village by Syrian-Russian Alliance forces in previous military campaigns.”

The date of the bombing leading to the civilian’s death is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nassar Ahmad Nassar
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence volunteers recovering the body of a victim who died after his house in Qastoun collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer at the site after a civilian died after his house collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • A Syrian Civil Defence volunteer at the site after a civilian died after his house collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via Syrian Civil Defence).
  • Nassar Ahmad Nassar died when the roof of his house collapsed on November 17th, 2020. According to local sources, the man's house was severely damaged by earlier alleged Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on an unknown date (via SNHR).

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4532

Incident date

November 17, 2020

Location

سرجة, Sarja, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.5816284, 36.9212293 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man, was reported killed and one civilian sustained injuries as the result of an alleged Russian and/or Regime strike on the village of Sarja in the southern countryside of Idlib on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that “A 30-year-old Syrian citizen, named as Munif Ahmad Naddaf, died when the roof of his home in Sarja village in the southern suburbs of Idlib governorate collapsed on November 17, 2020.” SNHR quoted local activist according to whom “the roof had been severely damaged by intensive bombardment of the village by Syrian-Russian Alliance forces in previous military campaigns, including the dropping of barrel bombs weighing between 50 and 1,000 kilograms.”

The Syrian Civil Defence and Thiqa News agency provided that a civilian was killed an another civilian sustained injuries when a cracked roof, resulting from previous Regime bombing, collapsed on Tuesaday evening, November 17. According to the SCD, this was the second incident that day in which a civilian died because a destabilized roof collapsed.

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the strike, with @dbOFRYEU7XqMrTc attributing the strike to the russian Armed Forces while @Khaled_Sheikh1 and @thiqanewsagency referred to the Regime as having carried out the attack on Sarja that caused the roof to collapse. The SNHRnamed both forces as responsible for the strike.

The incident allegedly took place in the evening.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Munif Ahmad Naddaf
30 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence teams carrying a victim after a civilian home in Sarja village collapsed on November 17th, 2020, following alleged Russian or Syrian regime strikes on an unknown date (via SNHR).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sarja (سرجة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.5816284, 36.9212293. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4533

Incident date

November 23, 2020

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.68599, 36.54239 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian, a man, was reported killed and an unknown number of civilians sustained injuries as a result of alleged Regime, Russian and/or Iranian artillery shelling on the town of Al Bara in the Jabal Al-Zawiya area in the southern countryside of Idlib on November 23, 2020.

Baladi News and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that the belligerent struck civilian houses. Both sources also stated that the attack on Al Bara was a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached following consultations between the Turkish and Russian presidents, which came into effect on March 6, 2020.

Regarding civilian harm, Halab Today TV tweeted that “A civilian was killed in the town of Al-Bara in the southern countryside of Idlib, as a result of artillery shelling by the regime forces on the town.” Similarly, The Syrian Civil Defense reported that “[a] person was killed, after being seriously wounded in the head” and that “The Syrian Civil Defense team worked to transfer the injured to the nearest medical point to provide treatment, but he died of his serious injuries. Multiple sources, including Stormagency1 and @anasanas84, identified the victim a the young man Muhammad Eido Shartah.

The SNHR was the only sources reporting wounded, saying that “[a] man named as Muhammad Eidou Shartah was killed while other civilians were injured when Syrian regime artillery forces fired shells at houses in [Al Bara].

The SNHR also noted that “[a]ttacks of this nature spread terror and panic among civilians, leading them to flee their lands and homes in an attempt to reach safety, and forcibly displacing them, with the number of internally displaced persons within Syria now reaching approximately 6.5 million Syrian citizens in total.”

Sources were conflicted as to who was responsible for the attack with @HalabTodayTV and @aa_arabic attributing the attack to the Syrian Regime, while @anasanas84 and Scoop referred to Russia as having carried out the strike on Al Bara. @Ahmad_1alshble said that both Russia and the Regime were responsible for the attack and @Marea_Elshame blamed Russian and Iranian forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Eidou Shartah محمد عيدو شرتح
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: "A civilian martyr as a result of artillery and missile strikes from the Russian occupation militia and Bashar al-Assad's gangs on the town of Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib."
  • One civilian was allegedly killed as a result of Russian or Syrian regime attacks on Al-Bara in Jabal Al-Zawiya on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @Ahmad_1alshble / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • The Syrian regime or Russian forces allegedly targeted Al-Bara on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @aa_arabic / Twitter)
  • Syrian Civil Defense reported that one person was killed by a Syrian regime or Russian artillery on November 23th 2020 (Image via Twitter)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One civilian was reported to have been killed by Russian or Syrian regime artillery on November 23rd 2020 (Image via @Marea_Elshame / Twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Bara (البارة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.68599, 36.54239. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS4313

Incident date

January 17, 2021

Location

سجن قرية القاسمية, Al Qasimia village prison , Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that between 20 and more than 30 prisoners were killed and others injured in alleged Russian, Iranian or Syrian regime forces airstrikes on Al Qasimia village prison in Aleppo’s western countryside in Syria on January 17th, 2020.

@yamenhm11 tweeted ” A massacre of more than 30 prisoners as a result of Russian and Iranian warplanes’ bombing on Al-Qasimia prison a while ago. The number of the injured is increasing, and most of them are rebels and activists.”

Local sources states that:”More than 30 prisoners were killed as a result of the Russian and Iranian bombing of Al Qasimia prison a short while ago, and the number of wounded is increasing, most of them revolutionaries and activists”

A different local source estimated that more than twenty prisoners were killed and that the ones that fled were shot whilst trying to escape.

Al Atareb post said that the area was targeted with four raids.

Aksalser and SOHR both suspected that the attacker was the Russian Armed Forces, whilst various local sources also additionally mention the Syrian Armed Forces and Iranian Armed Forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 30
  • (20–30 other protected persons)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Iranian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Iranian Military
  • Iranian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 30
  • (20–30 other protected persons)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Iranian Military, Syrian Regime
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Incident Code

R4295

Incident date

February 2, 2021

Location

قورقانيا, Qurqania, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two people were seriously injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on a mountainous area in Qurqania, north of Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. @SuheylAli said that vacuum missiles were used in the attack.

This wasn’t the only attack that took place on the day, as local sources reported similar attacks on Harbanoush, Kafr Arrouq and the town of Sheikh Bahr which are all subject to the ceasefire agreement between Turkey and Russia.

Local sources said the Russian airstrikes were in conjunction with artillery shelling by the regime forces on the area. However, all sources blamed Russia specifically for the Qurqania airstrike. Sy-24 said that Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew over Idlib following the airstrikes carried out by the warplanes.

Civilian harm resulting from this airstrike is contested, and the identity of the two injured is unclear. The Syrian Civil Defense said “two people were seriously injured as a result of the Russian warplanes bombing of a mountainous area near the town of Qurqania, north of Idlib.” But Al Yaum TV and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that “several fighters of opposition factions sustained various injuries due to today’s airstrikes by Russian jets on rebel positions in Idlib countryside.” However, Halab Today TV and Ugarit post said there were no reports of civilian casualties in the airstrikes.

No further information is available at the moment.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (19) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Syrian Civil Defence can be seen in the location of an earlier alleged Russian airstrike on Qurqania in Idlib on Feb 2nd, 2021. (via SCD).
  • Alleged Russian airstrikes with vacuum missiles on Qurqania in Idlib on Feb 2nd. (via @SuheylAli).
  • Alleged Russian airstrike on Qurqania in Idlib in Feb 2nd. (via @HalabTodayTV)
  • Caption translation: "The moment the Russian occupation air forces targeted the town of Korkania today."
  • Caption translation: "The Russian occupation forces launched airstrikes with missiles on the outskirts of the town of Korqania, north of Idlib."
  • Caption translation: "The moment Russian warplanes targeted the Kerkania area in the northern Idlib countryside."
  • Caption translation: "Russian warplanes bomb the vicinity of the village of Korknia in the Idlib Governorate."
  • Caption translation; "The moment the Russian occupation bombed the town of Korknia, north of Idlib."
  • Russian warplanes activities over Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. (via Qurqania news)
  • Russian warplanes activities over Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. (via Qurqania news)
  • Russian warplanes activities over Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. (via Qurqania news)
  • Russian warplanes activities over Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. (via Qurqania news)
  • Russian warplanes activities over Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. (via Qurqania news)
  • Russian warplanes activities over Idlib on February 2nd, 2021. (via Qurqania news)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (19) [ collapse]